British Comedy Guide

Weather Forecast Sketch

Once again, constructive criticisms welcome. I would also accept any suggestions for a better ending line.

The Weather Forecast Sketch

INT. NEWS STUDIO
The newsanchor, LISA, and the weatherman, GERALD, are presenting the news.

LISA (V.O.)
And now to Gerald with the weather. Gerald?

GERALD
Thank you, Lisa. The weather tomorrow is looking rather well; we are expecting to see sunny skies over most of the country, but5 we can't rule out rain or at least cloudy skies in other parts of the country -

LISA
I'm going to have to interrupt you there, Gerald, I am receiving feedback from the studio -

GERALD
No problem, interrupt me when you're ready.

(GERALD stands awkwardly.)

GERALD
About now?

LISA
Now I am interrupting you. Viewers have complained that the weather forecast is always inaccurate and they'd like to get exact information on the weather tomorrow or else you're just going to have to make stuff up.

GERALD
But this is a weather forecast. There's no way a weather forecast can be 100% correct -

LISA
So could you do a favour for the viewers at home and...

GERALD
...Oh, right. Eh... The weather on most of the country will be...

(GERALD rummages through his pockets, locating a coin.)

GERALD
Heads for sunny, tails for rainy (tosses coin)... rainy! Most of the country will be rainy, but we can't rule out... (tosses coin again) rain! Particularly around... (tosses coin again) Essex! People living in (tosses coin) Sussex are warned for... (rummages through his pocket, pulls out a 6-sided die this time, and casts it) snow, and Yorkshire might see... (casts die again) a freak precipitation of rats!

LISA
Gerald, Gerald, Gerald, I' pretty sure the viewers at home were joking -

GERALD
Shut up woman, I'm on television right now. Now, people in Northampton can expect... (pulls out a spin wheel from under the desk, and spins the dial) freak easterly winds from... Lisa, pick a number between 1 and 200.

LISA
Yes.

GERALD
Now say it?

LISA
37.

GERALD
Ireland! Beware of easterly winds from Ireland. The weather in Scotland will be pretty much the same, reaching... Lisa?

LISA
200.

GERALD
200 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the Dumfries, Glasgow and the Orkney Islands.

LISA
Thank you, Gerald, but we've received some more complaints from the public, including one from a Mr. T. Ashflower of Yorkshire who has complained about the forecast that Yorkshire will be raining rats.

GERALD
Why, is it actually raining water there?

LISA
He writes "You said it would be raining rats, but right now I see millions of mice falling from the sky. As I'm writing this response, now it's raining cats who want to eat those mice, and dogs intent on chasing those cats. It's not raining rats, it's raining cats and dogs! Would you believe it?"

GERALD
Well, I was close.

You open with the first joke ("the can I interrupt you" joke) coming from your straight man. This sets the piece up that it's Lisa whose going to lead the comedy with an expectation that the sketch might continue thus:

Gerald can I interrupt you?

Certainly?

Thank you. (Pause) Carry on.

Well looking at the weather we see..

Gerald I'm going to have to interrupt you...

Fine.

..Shortly

Ok. Well looking at the weather we can see..

Gerald.

Yes.

I'm now interrupting you.

Right

Gerald why are you such a tosser?

Pardon.

You just toss a coin don't you?

Sorry? Etc.

This would allow the sketch to build up to Gerald storming off. The punch line would reveal why Lisa is being so horrible. Explain her motivation well and the whole sketch should hang together as fluid piece.

Sorry if this was a bit waffley. My feedback technique needs a little work.

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